 |
| William E. Hartmann |
January 25, 1961 – The Chicago Daily Tribune reports that
architect William E. Hartmann, a managing partner of Skidmore, Owings and
Merrill, has delivered an address at the annual meeting of the State Street
council in which he urges a “sweeping downtown building plan.” [Chicago Daily Tribune, January 25, 1961]
Hartmann says, “I suggest a ‘City of Water.’ The idea of Lake Michigan, the
Chicago river, and Buckingham fountain should be extended into further water
exhibitions in the center area. The
federal and civic center might enlarge on this theme.” He goes farther, asserting
that 30 percent of the downtown area should be given over to housing. An all-weather sport stadium for 60,000
people should be located close to downtown and children should have “a Tivoli,
sort of Disneyland or Freedomland, perhaps on an island in the lake.” Hartman proposes a center for the performing
arts as well with a symphony hall, opera house, and theaters. The focus on art should continue with “public
art as focal points – public sculpture, plazas and fountains.” Finally, the architect suggests that “the
iron girdle of the Loop” be replaced with an improved transit system. With the exception of the performing arts
center and the massive sports complex, it is amazing today to see how many of Hartmann’s
ideas are on display in today’s Chicago – fountains, public art and sculpture,
Maggie Daley and Millennium Parks, and on and on.
January 25, 1955 – The Chicago Daily Tribune goes to press with the following headline on Page One: Halas to Quit as Bears Coach After ’55. George H. Halas, the coach of the Bears for three decades, will continue as president of the club that he organized in Decatur, Illinois in 1920 and brought to Chicago the following year. Says Halas, “I decided to step down two years ago. When we began rebuilding, I made up my mind that as soon as were a strong contender again, so I could turn the club over under the most favorable circumstances, I’d move out. I figured it would be about 1956. Fortunately, everything went according to schedule. We’re contenders now, we’ll be better next fall and by 1956 I won’t have to ask anybody to take over a loser.” Halas kept his word, leaving the team in the 1956 and 1957 campaigns, but he was back again in 1958 and coached the team for another decade, winning his last championship with the club in 1963.
January 25, 1925 -- The Chicago Daily Tribune reports that because the roads through Lincoln Park are the only practical way of getting from the Loop to the residential sections of the city north of North Avenue, the park, originally designed for leisurely carriage rides, is dealing with 5,000 cars per hour passing through it. That volume comes at a cost. In 1924 there are 1,420 cars damaged in accidents with 499 people injured. The photo above shows Lake Shore Drive in the 1920's, looking north from Oak Street. At the end of the road is Lincoln Park, where things got really congested at North Avenue.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment